How Should I Wear My Seatbelt?
- Most modern seat belts consist of two belts, a lap belt and a shoulder belt. Some classic cars may only have a lap belt from the factory. In either scenario, there's only one way to properly wear a lap belt.
Draw the lap belt snugly against your lap. Make sure you're sitting up straight and are as deeply back into the seat as you can get. Do not pull the lap belt up higher across your belly; instead, fasten it snugly across your lap. Make sure the belt is flat and not twisted, as twists in the belt can cause further injury to your body in the event of a crash. With modern seat belts, even when you pull it as snug as you can, you'll still have room to move. Tension sensors in modern seat belts automatically adjust to hold you firmly in place in an accident, but until that time, these belts are designed to allow you comfort and freedom of movement as you're using them.
Do not recline your seat while driving, as it may increase the chance of your sliding out from underneath your seat belt in the event of a crash. - Pull your shoulder belt across your shoulder and down snugly across your chest before securely fastening it. Do not put it under your arm, as your collarbone is more likely than your ribs to stand up to the force of impact in the event of a crash. Do not slide the shoulder belt behind you. Shoulder belts are designed to prevent you sliding out from underneath your lap belt if an accident occurs. You may think that you'll be able to control your actions, but you may not always be--especially if you're knocked unconscious.
Make sure your shoulder belt hasn't been pulled across your neck or face, as this improper placement could cause serious injury in the event of a crash. If your car has a shoulder belt, you should always wear it in conjunction with your lap belt. The two belts are designed to work together with your air bags if you're in an accident. Your air bags can actually cause you harm if you're in an accident and you're not properly wearing your seat belt.